Is Penang going to have Penang International Convention Centre (PICC)?

I come to know from the STAR Online that The Penang State Government is planning to build a new 6000 sq meter Penang International Convention Centre (PICC) and target to complete by Dec 2010. This is great. The estimate cost is about RM50mil.

But some people already question over the need to build such a convention centre in Penang.

The proposed new convention centre location is going to be within the current Penang International Sports Arena (Pisa) compound.  According to the source the centre will be able to cater for the MICE (meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions) market. It can contain 500 banquet tables for dinner, 3,000 tables for seminars or 300 exhibition stalls for exhibitions.

It will be good to see this proposed Penang Convention Centre have the go ahead as it will benefit the Penang community, the northern people and it can attract other international exhibition to come here.

It will be good for the light and sound company as well.

Sources from The Star On Line
Open tender for RM50mil Convention Centre
Centre of dispute: RM50mil PICC project questioned